Workshops for Writers - March 4: Writers In The Lodge
Join the St. Louis Writers Guild from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 4, 2023, for a free workshop with three publishing industry professionals. Our team of presenters will explore eBook publication, manuscript critiques in a writing group, and self-editing and working with an editor. The day’s agenda is:
10 a.m. Getting Started With eBook Publishing: How to Create Books That Sell
L.C. Mortimer via Zoom
11 a.m. Encouraging and Constructive: How to Manage Critique Groups with the Sandwich Method
Jennifer Stolzer via Zoom
12 p.m. All About Editing and Proofreading
Ruth E. Thaler-Carter in person at The Lodge Des Peres
L.C. Mortimer and Jennifer Stolzer will join us via Zoom, and Ruth E. Thaler-Carter will appear in person. Attendees can participate in-person at The Lodge Des Peres, 1050 Des Peres Rd., St. Louis, MO, 63131. The event will also livestream via Zoom. To attend the meeting online, follow the event link from the St. Louis Writers Guild website.
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Workshops for Writers - February 4: How to Write When Everything Goes Wrong
Join the St. Louis Writers Guild from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, February 4, 2023, for a free workshop with author and writing coach Allie Pleiter on keeping up your good writing habits no matter how many things blow up in your personal life. Here’s a personal invitation from Allie!
Join the St. Louis Writers Guild from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, February 4, 2023, for a free workshop with author and writing coach Allie Pleiter on keeping up your good writing habits no matter how many things blow up in your personal life. Here’s a personal invitation from Allie!
Is your muse yelling “SOS”? How do you keep the words pouring onto the page when your real life feels like it’s under attack? Every writer knows how stress and personal crises can strangle your creativity. Help is on the way in this practical workshop. You’ll learn:
How to get through the thick of your crisis
Tactics that will energize you to keep writing
How to use your stress to inspire your writing
When and how to write about your challenges
Pleiter has met deadlines in the midst of some imposing traumas. With candor, insight, and the wisdom of experience, she shares practical and inventive strategies for how to stay afloat and creative amid life’s stormiest seas. Her book, How to Write When Everything Goes Wrong, is available on Amazon.com.
Our presenter will join us via Zoom. Attendees can participate in-person at The Lodge Des Peres, 1050 Des Peres Rd., St. Louis, MO, 63131. The event will also livestream via Zoom. To attend the meeting online, follow the event link from the St. Louis Writers Guild website.
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Workshops for Writers - January 14: Cartooning and Comics Basics
Join the St. Louis Writers Guild from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, January 14, 2023, for a free workshop on comics and graphic novel creation with award-winner cartoonist Steenz.
Many novelists, from Ta-Nehisi Coates (Black Panther) to Neil Gaiman (Sandman, et al), tell stories through comics; why not you?
In this lecture and workshop, attendees are invited to learn about some of the basics of comic making and comic writing. Steenz will be walking us through visual literacy, simplification, panel layout, scripting, and more. After a lecture on their work and career, they'll go right into giving you exercises that you can do to develop your comic-making skills!
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Workshops for Writers - December 3: Book Party and Young Writer Awards readings
Join the St. Louis Writers Guild Board from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, December 3 for a Book Party! We will celebrate the Guild Young Writers 2022 Awards, and the winning authors will read their stories. As an adjunct to the SLWG Virtual Book Fair (November 26 through December 31), Guild members will hold an in-person book fair before and after the readings.
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Workshops for Writers - November 5: Gateway to NaNoWriMo
Join The St. Louis Writers Guild Board from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, November 5 for a free panel discussion of National Novel Writing Month followed by an opportunity to network with other writers working in your genre.
Our panel will discuss the practical ins-and-outs of a focused writing marathon like NaNoWriMo, such as the dangers and pitfalls as well as the sense of accomplishment that comes from completing such a project. Bring your questions and own experiences for discussion. Following the panel, we will break up into small groups for Genre Talk, a chance to discuss your work-in-progress or brainstorm with colleagues. Look for your genre’s table signage: “Romance,” “Mystery/Thriller,” “Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror,” “Creative Nonfiction/Memoir/Journalism,” and “Children/Middle Grade/Young Adult.” Or feel free to tablehop!
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Workshops for Writers - October 1: Horror as Legitimate Literature
Join horror author John S. McFarland from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, October 1, for a free in-person workshop hosted by the St. Louis Writers Guild at The Lodge Des Peres, 1050 Des Peres Rd., St. Louis, MO, 63131.
Horror is usually considered genre or somehow less legitimate than mainstream fiction. In this workshop Author John S. McFarland will discuss the part horror has always played in human imagination and stories as well as what sparked his own interest in horror writing, his role models, and his resulting publications. We’ll explore horror styles and the work of great horror writers, past and present. Bring your questions!
“Join current SLWG meeting” button at the top of the St. Louis Writers Guild’s Events page (https://www.stlwritersguild.org/events).
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Workshops for Writers - September 10: Writing Engaging Combat Scenes
Join young-adult author L.L. McKinney from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, September 10, for a ticketed workshop hosted by the St. Louis Writers Guild. Although Guild members’ admission is free, a ticket is required. Attendees can also order two of L.L. McKinney’s books, A Blade So Black and Nubia, with their ticket purchase. Find the link to order tickets and books at St. Louis Writers Guild.
L.L. McKinney’s A Blade So Black is replete with exciting fight scenes; it’s no wonder they’re her favorite scenes to write. But many writers struggle to make these action sequences accurate, believable, AND engaging. In this workshop we’ll explore the fundamentals of a fight scene, tips and tricks to draw the reader into the narrative, and some examples from L.L. McKinney’s works.
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Workshops for Writers - August 6: Writing With Crime
Join crime fiction author Cathy Pickens from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, August 6, for a free workshop hosted by the St. Louis Writers Guild. In this workshop, we’ll explore the rich resources provided by real crime cases and explore some examples of how other writers have used them.
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Workshops for Writers - July 9: Writing for Games
Mike Breault, a 35-year veteran of the game industry, talks about the challenges and rewards of writing for both tabletop and digital games. Bring your questions for a lively discussion of the storytelling aspects of games. 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, July 9
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Workshops for Writers-Feb. 5: Love on the Page
Join author Sela Carsen from 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday Feb. 5, for a writing workshop hosted by the St. Louis Writers Guild. This free workshop will be held online only.
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Workshops for Writers-Jan. 8: Writing History: Crafting an Interesting (and True!) Story
Join historian Tanya Roth from 10 a.m. to noon, Jan. 8, for a history-writing workshop hosted by the St. Louis Writers Guild. This free online workshop will be live-streamed on Zoom.
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Workshops for Writers-Dec. 4: Guild honors young writers at holiday gathering
Join a celebration honoring award-winning young writers at the St. Louis Writers Guild’s annual holiday gathering from 10 a.m. to noon, Dec. 4. This free event will be held at The Lodge Des Peres, 1050 Des Peres Rd., St. Louis, Mo. 63131.
Learn how fourth- through eighth-graders created stories that all began with the words: “When the Door Opened…” Winners of the Young Writers Awards (High School Edition) for ninth- to twelfth-grade students will also be invited to read their stories centered on the 2021 theme: When the Door Opened.
MASKS ARE MANDATORY.
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Workshops for Writers-Nov. 6: Worldbuilding Workshop Doubleheader with NaNoWriMo Write-in
The St. Louis Writers Guild returns to live workshops on Nov. 6 with a free worldbuilding doubleheader and NaNoWriMo write-in at The Lodge Des Peres, 1050 Des Peres Rd., St. Louis, MO 63131. Masks are required.
The first hour will feature author Amanda Jakle on “Worldbuilding Basics for Authors.” USA Today bestselling author Nicole Evelina will lead the write-in as part of National Novel Writing Month, including tips on “Worldbuilding for Historical Fiction, Sci-fi and Fantasy.”
Additionally, the workshop will be broadcast live via Zoom from 10 a.m. to noon and it will be recorded.
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Workshops for Writers-Oct. 2: Writing Opinion Journalism
Join Washington Post associate op-ed editor Mark Lasswell from 10 a.m. to noon, Oct. 2, at a free online workshop about “Writing Opinion Journalism” hosted by the St. Louis Writers Guild.
The opinion side of journalism comes in many forms, including movie, music and book reviews, magazine articles reported with a strong point of view, newspaper editorials and op-eds. As a writer and editor, Lasswell has worked extensively in these areas.
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Workshops for Writers-Sept. 11: “Pitchfest” Workshops, Consultations & Pitches
Sign up now for book consultations with experts and to pitch your novel to publishers at the St. Louis Writers Guild’s Sept. 11 Pitchfest!
From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the online mini-conference will also feature three “how-to” workshops to help you get your book ready to launch. These are free for SLWG members and $20 for nonmembers. Members must register to receive the link. Pitch sessions and consultations are an additional fee.
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Workshops for Writers-Aug. 7: Improve Your Writing & Sell More Books with Beta Readers
Learn how to identify, qualify, locate, and use an incredible writer’s tool known as beta readers at this Aug. 7 workshop featuring author and marketing professional Cherie Postill.
During this online workshop from 10 a.m. to noon, Aug. 7, you will learn the definition of beta testing, how to pinpoint your beta readers, and why every writer needs them. It is only one piece of the puzzle that ends with a published manuscript, but a vital one.
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